Module 1 - Improving Animal Health Services through Public/Private Partnerships

These technicians are familiar with local conditions and often are accepted more readily by the local population than public veterinarians. Local technicians also can be critical components of an early alert system for detecting potential disease outbreaks. Although paraprofessionals generally have extensive knowledge of the local situation (including of gender roles), there is a need to distinguish tasks that auxiliaries can undertake from tasks that necessitate official controls to prevent major disease outbreaks, public health threats, or the loss of important markets. Veterinary services should ensure effective communication and supervision between professional (public official or mandated private veterinarian) and paraprofessional animal health providers, and public animal health services should also regulate paraveterinary uses of products that carry public health risks (antibiotics, hormones), disease quarantine risks (attenuated vaccines), or drug resistance risks (antibiotics or trypanocides).

Table 1.1 Economic characteristics and delivery of animal health services